The Grizzlies have fielded several trade offers from teams looking to acquire the rights to unsigned rookie Xavier Henry — interest mostly derived from a contract stalemate between the team and the NBA's 12th overall draft pick. But Griz owner Michael Heisley insisted Wednesday that the team is only interested in signing Henry to a deal that will have him play in FedExForum this season. Read more: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/aug/19/griz-get-trade-offers-for-henry/
Update ... The Memphis Grizzlies and Xavier Henry, the No. 12 pick in the 2010 draft, remain at an impasse over his rookie contract and that has prompted other teams to call about his availability. But Memphis owner Michael Heisley says he's not trading Henry. "I'm not looking to trade him just to trade him," Heisley told The Commercial-Appeal Wednesday. "I'm not angry with him. I expect him to play. He's going to have an opportunity to play a lot, and we need him. So my reaction to this is I'm expecting we'll get something done and he'll play for us this season." The Bulls and Celtics are two teams that might still pick up another shooter, so it's possible they're two of the teams that have contacted the Grizzlies about a trade. But we'll qualify that as a highly speculative statement. We're also left wondering what this situation may mean in the future for first-round draft picks of the Grizzlies. It's possible prospects may decline workout invitations from Memphis before the draft if they're leery about getting the full 120 percent rookie scale salary only after meeting performance incentives, which Memphis, in a rare circumstance, is currently offering to Henry. Source: Commercial Appeal
I never fully understood the hold up. He's a rookie in the lottery so isn't his contract already determined?
